FAT32 Data Recovery Freeware | Easily Recover Data from FAT32

About (FAT32) File System

A “file system”is a method used by an operating system to organize, store, and manage files on storage devices like hard drives, SSDs, or USB drives. It defines how data is stored, retrieved, and tracked. Common file systems include FAT32, NTFS, exFAT,HFS, and APFS, each offering different features and compatibility.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32) is a widely used file system, especially for removable devices like USB drives, SD cards, and older hard drives. It is an improvement over the earlier FAT12 and FAT16 formats, offering simplicity and broad cross-platform compatibility.

As reliable as FAT32 can be for compatibility across different devices and operating systems, data loss can still occur due to accidental deletion, formatting, or corruption. In this guide, we will explore how to perform FAT32 data recovery in detail.

How to Recover FAT32 Data?

To recover data from FAT32 partition, you can try the following methods one by one.

Method 1. Check the Recycle Bin

If files were accidentally deleted, check the Recycle Bin (on Windows) to see if they are there. If you find them in the Recycle Bin, you can easily restore FAT32 data by click on “Restore”.

Method 2. CHKDSK (Check Disk) Utility

The CHKDSK tool can fix errors on the FAT32 partition and may help restore lost files due to minor corruption or logical issues. Here's how to use it:

Step 1. Open “Command Prompt”as Administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command and press “Enter”:

chkdsk g: /f /r (Replace g with the drive letter of the FAT32 partition.)

This command will perform a disk check on the drive G:, fixing errors and recovering readable data.

Method 3. Use Attrib Command

The “attrib”command in Windows can help recover hidden or system files that are not visible due to accidental attribute changes. Just enter the Command Prompt window and run the command attrib -h -r -s h:\*.* /s /d(Replace the second "H" with the exact letter of your FAT32 drive.)

Notes:✎...

-h: clear the hidden attribute.

-r: clear the read-only attribute.

-s: clear the system attribute.

This command removes the hidden, read-only, and system attributes from all files and directories in the current directory and its subdirectories. This is useful if you are trying to recover files that have been hidden or marked as system files.

Method 4. WinFR (Windows File Recovery)

WinFR is a free data recovery tool provided by Microsoft that can help finish FAT32 data recovery. It works through Command Prompt and offers a powerful file recovery process.

Step 1. Download and install "Windows File Recovery" from the Microsoft Store.

Step 2. Open "Command Promp" as administrator and run the following command:

Winfr H: D\test /regular (Replace the second "H" with the exact letter of your FAT32 drive.)

This command instructs Windows File Recovery to recover files from the H: drive and save the recovered files to the D:\test folder, using the regular recovery mode, which is faster and focuses on recently deleted files.

Method 5. Windows File History

If you have enabled Windows’built-in feature “File History”, which regularly saves copies of your files and allows you to restore them to a previous version, you can try to recover your FAT32 data by the following steps:

Step 1. Navigate to the folder where your files were stored.

Step 2. Right-click the folder and select “Restore previous versions”.

Step 3. Choose a version from the File History list and click “Restore”to recover the files.

Method 6. Third-party Data Recovery Tool

The above methods can apply to recover data from FAT32 partition when the partition is visiable and accessible. If you cannot access the FAT32 drive, or the entire partition is missing or lost, then you need advanced methods. One of the most convenient and effective ways is to make use of MyRecover, a professional data recovery program for Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 and Windows Server users.

MyRecover

Fast, Reliable Data Recovery Software

• Over 500 Data Loss Situations: emptied recycle bin, accidental deletion, formatting, virus attack, RAW partition recovery, and more.
• Supports 500+ Storage Devices: compatible with internal and external hard drives, HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, cameras, and others.
• Recovers 1000+ File Types: such as images, videos, audio, documents, archives, emails, and much more.
• Wide System Compatibility: works seamlessly with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and all Windows Server versions.
• Crashed PC Recovery: restore files from unbootable computer with bootable media.

Try It Free

100% Secure

This tool can scan your whole operating system for lost or missing partition, and then search lost files in the target partition for recovery. Detailed steps are:

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your Windows computer.

Step 2. Click "Partition Lost Recovery" under the "Advanced Recovery" section, then it will search for your lost FAT32 partition.

Step 3. When the FAT32 partition is listed, click on "Scan" to search for its inside data.

Step 4. Once scanning is completed, all recoverable files will be listed, tick what you need to restore and click on “Recover.”

Step 5. Choose a destinatione drive to save the files from lost FAT32 partition.

Then, you just wait for the recovery process to be completed. Once done, you will see a message saying, "xxx files have been recovered successfully" along with the recovered file path. 

Summary

Whether you still have access to the FAT32 partition or have lost it, this tutorial will guide you through the steps to recover data from the FAT32 partition. As a one-stop solution, MyRecover meets all your FAT32 data recovery needs.If you upgrade to Technician edition, you can perform data recovery on unlimited devices in one company with preview options.